Russia

US Senators Make Bipartisan Push for Talks With Germany on Shelving Russian Gas Link

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US senators pushed President Joe Biden to talk to the new German government about putting Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on ice, in an article published Friday by The Washington Post.
Sputnik
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), who took part in a video call of some 20 Congress members with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, have accused Russia of using energy resources as a weapon against Europe after it was hit by a pandemic-driven gas supply crunch.

"The administration should work closely with the new German government to keep the pipeline from becoming operational; it is in Europe's best interests to deny [President Vladimir] Putin another arm of influence over our allies", they wrote.

The senators called on Biden to reimpose sanctions on the subsea gas link. Nord Stream 2 was completed in the fall but its certification process by Germany has stalled and a decision is not expected until mid-2022. Ukraine and Poland stand to miss out on gas transit fees if the pipeline becomes operational.
Putin Says Efforts to Block Nord Stream 2 Foolish, Since Project Would Lower Gas Prices
Russia has repeatedly urged against politicising the project, expressing readiness to keep gas transit via Ukraine.
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